Courtnall played his best career years as a Canuck but more importantly he was a straight up playoff warrior.

He put up 61 points in 65 playoff games for Vancouver, 19 of those in 1994. He had a couple of big moments during that run including the the game 5 OT winner against Calgary that sparked the trio of overtime comebacks that still might be the Canucks’ greatest claim to fame against the Flames.

In Game 6 of the Finals, with the Canucks up 3-1, Courtnall had a beautiful chance late in the third only for the puck to hit something by the net allowing the Rangers to take it back up ice and get a Messier goal to claw back.

Luckily, this was the first season the NHL implemented video review and it was quickly determined the puck had hit the back crossbar and bounced out.

Courtnall, like many on that team, tapered off after that run and eventually was traded back to St Louis in the summer of 1995. He played with the Blues for five seasons until concussion issues forced his retirement.

With the death of Rick Rypien, Courtnall has been back in the news and speaking publically about his family’s battle with depression for the first time.

Courtnall’s father took his own life in 1978 at the age of 45 and Courtnall now admits to a lifelong drinking problem and is dealing with his own issues of depression. The concussions certainly didn’t help matters.